Jessy Edmunds with Josh Catalano.
Camera IconJessy Edmunds with Josh Catalano. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Cooking for a cause

Margaret Price, Joondalup TimesWanneroo Times

Since Gordon Beasley’s dementia diagnosis a couple of years ago, she has watched the knowledgeable, intelligent man become confused and withdrawn.

Determined to help researchers find a cure, the office manager and self-confessed ‘terrible cook’ hosted a dinner for 68 at Bella Fonte’s in Hillarys.

Generous support from family, friends, former West Perth Football Club workmates and the restaurant paid off, and Jessy raised $7800 for the cause.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

As WA’s highest fundraiser, she won a meal for eight cooked at her mum’s Butler home by former MasterChef contestant Josh Catalano.

‘Winning Bring it to the Table gave me a lot of personal pride and a sense of achievement in that my fundraising efforts are making a real difference to those affected by Alzheimer’s,’ she said.

‘As lovely as it was to have Josh cook for us, and it was a wonderful reward for all the hard work, I didn’t enter to win.

‘I just wanted to raise money to help people like my grandad.

‘I love my grandparents (Gordon and Elaine) very much and I thought I would put my event management skills to use in a way that could help raise money and assist my grandad with what he is going through.’

Jessy said although she had little interest in cooking, Josh had inspired her and her friends to replicate such dishes as prawn and watermelon salad.

‘They were the best seafood dishes I’ve ever tasted,’ she said of his meal.

Jessy hopes to raise even more at next year’s Bring it to the Table.